Springbreak at Big Bend National Park!

It's become a family tradition to, whenever possible, spend our Springbreak and Thanksgivings at Big Bend National Park or its surrounding area towns: Marfa (home of the Chinati Foundation - modern art museum), Ft. Davis (where those visiting the McDonald Observatory usually find lodging) and Alpine. The images below tell you why we love the area so much.

And here are the interestingly beautiful plants, among other interesting sightings, from our trip.

Emory Peak Trail - Highest point of Big Bend

On our first full day at Big Bend, we decided to do the toughest hike we've ever done since we've been to the Big Bend - this was our third year. The trail is strenuously difficult, which we found out the hard way: 9 miles round trip of upward hiking - the boys did great considering the hike and hot weather. Our legs (and butts) were like mush that evening!

Deer on our way up Emory Peak Trail

Pictures don't do justice to the beautiful deer we encountered during our hike. It came very close to the boys but not enough for them to touch it.

Dinner at Starlight Cafe in Terlingua

At the end of our first full day at Big Bend, after the toughest hike we ever did, we decided to go have dinner at the much anticipated Starlight Cafe - we had heard so much about it but didn't get to go until this last trip. It's located in Terlingua, home of the Texas Chili Cook-Off. Terlingua is a ghost town but the home of interesting folks from all over the US - its Starlight Cafe is famous for good food and entertainment. We had a great blues singer when we dined there.

The boys were exhausted from the Emory Peak Trail hike!

Two Hikes on our Second Day at Big Bend

On our second day, we did two trails: A short one to an old family settlement - Sam Neil's - and a 5 mile trail called Chimney Trail. The latter had gorgeous desert plants (some images seen earlier) along the way, many of which were just budding - two weeks later all the flowers will be blooming! One section of the Chimney mountains looks like a stegosauraus: That's where we saw native indian pictographs.

Boquillas Canyon at Big Bend

We spent the last day at Big Bend just relaxing by the Rio Grande at Boquillas Canyon where there is a huge dune that we climb and roll down. The view is amazing. Across the river is Mexico.